Cassy O’Connor MLC – Member for Hobart
In a betrayal of the interests of the Tasmanian people, the Liberals, Labor and Independent Member for Launceston last night voted away Parliament’s capacity to oversight medium to large scale energy projects undertaken by Hydro.
In the Legislative Council yesterday, the Greens moved to disallow a Liberal regulation that removed Parliamentary oversight of significant HEC projects.
Under the Act underpinning the Hydro, Parliament had the power through a disallowable instrument, to test projects over 40 MW.
The Liberals’ regulation set the threshold at which either or both Houses of Parliament can examine our biggest GBE’s construction projects and partnerships, at 300 MW.
To put that in context, the Franklin Dam’s capacity is more than 170 MW, so the Liberals removed Parliamentary oversight of Hydro projects almost twice the size of the Franklin dam.
Energy Minister, Nick Duigan, tried to mislead MLCs by stating the regulation was all about enabling solar. In fact, it removes oversight of Hydro projects for any energy type except wind, which is already exempt.
This includes future types of energy which haven’t been conceived of, which makes the removal of Parliament from the picture even more troubling.
Vica Bayley MP – Greens Energy spokesperson
It is just breathtaking that Parliament would hand over its authority, vested in it by the Tasmanian people, to keep a close eye on our biggest GBE’s large projects, capital investments and partnerships with private companies.
Not once, since the HEC Act was enacted in 1995, has Parliament exercised this power or stood in the way of a Hydro project. However, Parliamentary scrutiny remains a crucial component of the process.
During last night’s debate on the Greens’ disallowance motion, Minister Duigan and Labor’s Energy spokesperson, Luke Edmunds, variously described Parliament’s role under the HEC Act as an ‘unnecessary barrier’, ‘burdensome’ and ‘arduous’. That really says it all.
The Greens understand the critical importance of upholding Parliament’s scrutiny role, particularly with every GBE and State-owned company (SOC) except Hydro, on the chopping block.
We will always fight to ensure Parliament represents the Tasmanian people, and unlike some of our Parliamentary colleagues, we’ll never vote away the responsibility and power of the people’s House to hold governments and public entities to account.
